Most claims that get delayed or reduced do not fail for lack of coverage, but for lack of evidence. The insurer will pay what you can prove. This is the list we recommend following from day one.
Before anything happens
- A video of your property. Walk through every room, open closets and drawers, focus on equipment and brands. Repeat it once a year.
- Copies outside the house. Keep your policy, receipts for major purchases and photos of the property in the cloud.
- Your policy number and our phone number at hand, on paper too, in case power or cell service goes down.
The day of the event
- Safety first. If there is a risk to life or property, call the authorities. No document is worth more than your family.
- Photos and video before touching anything. Take wide and close-up shots, from several angles, with something that shows scale. Include the exterior, roofs, water lines on walls and the house number or license plate.
- Write down the date, time and what happened while you remember it well. If there are witnesses, note their names and phone numbers.
- If it was a theft or an accident, file a police report and get the number. In auto accidents, exchange information with the other driver: name, license, plate and insurer.
- Notify us as soon as possible. Many policies require «immediate» notice or notice within a few days. Late notice can complicate a claim that would otherwise be valid.
The following days
- Keep the damage from getting worse. Your policy usually requires you to protect the property: cover a roof, shut off water, dry out. Make only emergency repairs and keep the receipts for materials and labor; they are usually reimbursable.
- Do not throw away damaged items until the adjuster sees them or authorizes it in writing. If you must discard something for health reasons (food, wet carpets), photograph it first and note brand, model and age.
- Make an inventory of what was lost: item, quantity, brand, model, purchase date and approximate price. Old photos, bank statements and online order confirmation emails all serve as evidence.
- Keep all additional expenses, such as hotel, extra meal costs or car rental, if your policy covers them.
- Keep a log of every call and visit: date, the person’s name and what was agreed. Ask for anything important in writing.
During the inspection
Be present when the adjuster comes, show all the damage —including what is not obvious— and hand over copies of your photos and inventory. Before signing a proof of loss or accepting a final payment, understand what it includes and what it leaves out. If something does not add up, check with us before signing.
What we do for you
At De Varona Insurance we file the claim with the insurer, give you the case number and follow up with the adjuster until it is resolved. You can start right now from our claims page or call us at (787) 754-8090.
This article is general information. Deadlines and requirements depend on the terms of each policy.